Carlos Sainz is preparing for his final race as a Ferrari driver at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He’s signed a deal to race for Williams in 2025.
It looks as if Sainz will be swapping the team second in the constructors’ championship for the team second from bottom. Of course, this wasn’t by choice.
Ferrari informed him in the winter that they were signing Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz Sr then tipped off Toto Wolff, which may have set in motion the last-minute leak.
At that stage, Sainz would have been optimistic of securing another desirable seat. But Red Bull overlooked him as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez, Mercedes promoted Kimi Antonelli instead and Aston Martin renewed both drivers.
That left the Spaniard choosing between Alpine, Williams and Sauber/Audi – three of the bottom five in the standings. In the end, he placed his faith in James Vowles’ project.
Sainz’s performances across his four years at Ferrari, including 2024, show he’s hard done by. He’s scored 272 points this year, with two wins, eight podiums and a pole position to his name.
Carlos Sainz admits he wasn’t the right driver to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull
Sainz started his career at Toro Rosso as a product of Red Bull’s driver academy. But they showed little interest in taking him back when he became available.
Christian Horner feared tension between Sainz and Verstappen, driven chiefly by their antagonistic fathers. But while he’ll miss out on a potential 2025 title shot, the 30-year-old is adamant it’s for the best.
Sainz says he isn’t the right ‘fit’ for the current version of Red Bull. He implied that they need an out-and-out number two, a role he’s simply too good to occupy.
Perez signed a new contract in June, but there was fresh uncertainty over his future by July. Though Williams didn’t announce Sainz until the summer break, it would have been too risky to wait.
“I don’t think I fit into the Red Bull situation,” he said on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “They had me available for six months and they didn’t pick me.
“But at that time, Checo was still doing a decent job. He was finishing on the podium in the early races of the year.
“It was until the summer break. Red Bull had me available for six months and they didn’t pick me.
“I think it’s because I simply don’t fit into the type of driver they need right now in Red Bull. I’m completely fine with that.
“If anything, they’re making me a favour. I don’t see it as a last opportunity to not wait till December.”
Red Bull overlooked two other race winners in Formula 1 driver market
Red Bull are no doubt regretting giving Perez a new contract. At the time, they hoped it would reassure him and improve his performances, but his levels have only dropped since.
Red Bull will have to pay £11m to axe Perez a year early, and come 2025, they may rue their decision not to snap up Sainz at the first opportunity. Barring one or two inevitable flashpoints, Ferrari have broadly maintained harmony with two rapid drivers, including a member of the F1 elite in Charles Leclerc.
In addition to Sainz, Red Bull snubbed Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas. Alonso stayed at Aston, while Bottas has lost his spot on the F1 grid after banking on a Sauber renewal.
Alonso is a world champion, while Bottas has reached double figures for race wins. They too could have been an upgrade on Perez, but Red Bull will now have to take a gamble on Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda.
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